Events

MINSK, 11 October (BelTA) – There is no sense in deploying a Russian airbase in Belarus. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko made the statement after casting his vote at polling station No. 1 on 11 October, BelTA has learned.

“We don’t need any bases,” said the Belarusian leader.

“Try to understand one simple thing. I am not trying to play up to someone. I am not trying to say something trendy,” said Alexander Lukashenko.

The President reminded that in addition to building the Union State Belarus and Russia are members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization. In his words, the two countries have different areas of responsibility inside the CSTO. “We are located in the west, in direct contact with structures of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. We don’t want to wage wars, we have always said so, but we have to keep our powder dry. Bearing it in mind and since you are ahead of us in the process, we are shaping some adequate policy, a military political one. This is why we have signed an agreement with Russia within the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the Union State as well as a bunch of other agreements building up on the initial one for the sake of ensuring our economic, political, and military political stability,” explained the President as he addressed the representative of a European mass medium. “Belarus has created the relevant military force together with the Russian Federation here, in the western direction. The Belarusian army is at its core. 70,000 men at present. The army is being constantly modernized and improved. We keep an eye on the conflicts in Ukraine, Syria, in Iraq before that, and other places. We evaluate what methods are used to wage wars or hot conflicts these days. We make the relevant conclusions and adjust our armed forces to these conflicts.”

The head of state underlined that Belarus and Russia have signed an agreement on creating a military group in the western direction. “If, god forbid, a conflict begins here, the Belarusian army will try to deal with it primarily on its own. Within several days the Russian army will give us support,” stressed the Belarusian leader. He asked reporters not to pull his words out of context. “I don’t want to wage wars but if, god forbid, bases are not the point. The point is that we will stand our ground here together with Russians and everyone else who will be willing to support us. Tell me whether we need some base, some air forces to accomplish it here. What can aircraft do if, let’s say, they are relocated from Russia to some Belarusian airfield?” asked Alexander Lukashenko.

The head of state noted that Belarus does not need it today. Instead Belarus needs air defenses. He underlined that Belarus is now working on systems that will make wars against Belarus impossible. “Aircraft even in regiment’s strength will not be able to cool off NATO heads. Missiles will,” said Alexander Lukashenko. “This is why air defense and missile systems, capable, strike-oriented systems will be used to defend Belarus and Russia because it is our area of responsibility. You should know that if you tell us that you want to wage a war against Russia from your territory while saying Belarus can stay out of it, we will join the fight right away. We have a relevant agreement with Russia. We will defend here in Belarus. Not in Ukraine, Syria or some other southern places. We have to defend Russian lands here. Several days later we will be reinforced by Russian aircraft, guided missiles and so on.”

According to Alexander Lukashenko, if Russia agrees to hand over a regiment of aircraft to Belarus, they will be flown by Belarusian pilots. The President stressed that Belarus has excellent specialists. “The question is why we would have to do it if we can do it on our own?” said the Belarusian head of state.